
CHRISTIAN WORK IN THE ARMY 



PBIOR TO THE 



ORGAN IZATION 



inittb mztt* wbristinn (£011x1111661011. 



THE WORK 



AEMT COMMITTEE 



NEW YORK 

gonng pen's (%isiian Association, 



WHICH LED TO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE 



A PAPER EEAD BEFORE THE ASSOCIATION AT THE MONTHLY 
MEETING, 18th DECEMBER, 1865, 



AT THE REQUEST OF THE 



BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 



BY 



CEPHAS BRAINERD. 



JOHN MEDOLE, PRINTER, 4 THAMES STREET. 
1866. 



New York Young Men's Christian Association, 

No. 161 Fifth Avenue, 

November 27, 1865. 

Cephas Brainebd, Esq. , 

Bear Sir— At a regular meeting of the Board of Directors of this 

Association, held on the evening of the 25th inst., the following Keso- 

lutions were unanimously adopted: 

Whereas, Mr. George H. Stuart, Chairman of the Christian Commission, 
has requested information in relation to the religious work performed among 
the Soldiers prior to its organization; therefore, 

Resolved, That Cephas Brainerd, Esq., formerly Chairman of the Army 
Committee of the Association, be and he hereby is requested to prepare a 
statement of the services rendered by Committees of this Association, which 
led to the organization of the Commission. 

Resolved, That Mr. Brainerd be and he hereby is requested to present the 
result of his investigations respecting the early army work of the Association, 
in the form of an essay, to be read at the monthly meeting in December. 

Very truly yours, 

L. BOLTON BANGS, 

Recording Secretary. 



The cause of the preparation of the following statement appears in 
the note which is given above. The writer, in preparing it, has had 
access to the letters and papers pertaining to the Army Committee in 
the hands of the gentlemen who composed it, and those preserved by 
the Association; to manuscript journals and memoranda of those en- 
gaged in the work; to written statements since prepared by them 
upon recollection; to the various advertisements, notices, editorial 
comments, reports and letters which appeared in the public press; 
and to the papers remaining in his hands, as Secretary of the Special 
Convention at which the Christian Commission was formed. 

48 Pine Street, i 
18th Bee, '65. } c - B - 



STATEMENT. 



Mr. President, Brethren : 

For many privileges and blessings, for opportunities for self- 
culture, for labor, and for effort in the cause of the Master, 
through a period of more than twelve years, I still owe this 
Association my most hearty thanks, my most earnest efforts, 
and my most fervent prayers. But no duty to which I have 
been called, in this somewhat long connection, has been to me 
a source of so much pleasure, and even pride, as that which is 
now, under the peremptory invitation of the Board of Directors, 
sought to be performed. 

Would that it were in my power to deck the story of the 
early work of our loved Association, among the soldiers of the 
Union Army, with the charms of scholarship and rhetoric; 
but there remains this satisfaction, that in its plain and una- 
dorned details, when duly appreciated, there may be found 
a fascination beyond the proudest story of chivalry or romance. 
Perhaps it is to be feared that, at this late day, the importance 
of this early work, anterior to the organization of the Chris- 
tian Commission, can not be fully apprehended. We may find 
it difficult to carry our minds back over the history of the last 
four years and picture to ourselves, with the vividness of awful 
reality, the situation of the nation, and the feelings of the 
people, in the first half year of the war. We have now before 
us the vision of a lasting peace : a united people, the most 
powerful on the globe, dwelling in a vast and fruitful land, 
under a system of constitutional law the most complete and 
wise ever devised by the wit of man, from whom there daily 



6 

ascends the song of happy industry and devout praise, freed 
from the discordant moans of the unpaid slave. 

Still sounding in our ears, is the martial tramp and music of 
more than one million of victorious soldiers on their homeward 
march, and their gleaming bayonets and waving standards are 
just fading from our view. Those grand charities of the war, 
the Christian and Sanitary Commissions, without parallel in 
the history of philanthropic endeavor, the annual almoners of 
millions of dollars, are now submitting the histories of their 
sublime labors, and the statistical details of the generosity of 
a noble and patriotic people. 

Hence, in the contrast, small beginnings and early, circum- 
scribed efforts appear poor, indeed. But to-night we must 
strive to see the great rebellion in its earlier developments; to 
recall the doubt and bewilderment of the whole people; the 
fears respecting the strength of our form of government, and 
the wide-spread skepticism, at home and abroad, as to the abil- 
ity of a nation so constituted to withstand successfully the 
shock of such a civil contest; the body of the positively dis- 
loyal at the North, and their constant croaking; the proud de- 
meanor and bold, defiant tones of organized rebels and trait- 
ors; the utter unpreparedness of the nation for a contest of 
arms, possessing neither the munitions of war, nor money, its 
sinews; and the entire ignorance of the whole population, 
either in theory or in fact, of the perils, duties, sacrifices, and 
dangers involved in a state of national belligerency. 

The air was filled with rumors, the most frightful and con- 
tradictory, but all facts to an eager and agitated population; 
yet with hurried good-byes, ill defined but patriotic notions, 
and no preparation, the young men of the land were crowding 
into camps to take on the garb and confront the dangers of 
military life. 

At a period when the condition of our country was most 
strange and inexplicable, a monthly meeting of this Associa- 
tion was held in the lecture-room of Dr. Asa D. Smith's 
church, corner of Fourteenth Street and Second Avenue, at 
which P. Harwood Vernon. Esq., then the head of our organi- 
zation, presided. It was one of our smallest meetings; indeed, 
we never saw darker days than those then passing. In peculiar 



contrast with the condition of things, and forcibly illustrating 
their contradictory character, the stated paper, read by Mr. 
Frank W. Ballard, treated of " The Huguenot Settlers of New 
York and Vicinity.'*' Perhaps the lesson there taught of the 
sufferings and sacrifices of those noble men for conscience' 
sake, and their unfaltering perseverance in the right course, 
was a fit one for us all to hear and ponder afresh. 

Anterior to this meeting, and on the 21st of May, 18G1, 
some members of the new Board of Directors held an informal 
meeting in the study of Rev. Stephen H. Tyng, Jr., when the 
subject of army work for the Association was considered and 
discussed; and within a day or two thereafter Messrs. Vernon 
and Tyng made the first visit to the soldiers as representatives 
of the Association ; they were of the Troy regiment then 
stationed in Canal Street. Immediately thereafter followed 
our regular meeting, when the situation of the volunteers in 
the camps about the city, their necessities, the lack of chaplains 
and religious instructors, the need of small and portable books 
and tracts adapted to the wants of a soldier's life, were fully 
discussed; and the question was then agitated, What should the 
Association do ? 

And there, with most unpromising surroundings, the whole 
of the ideas, since more fully developed and popularized by the 
United States Christian Commission, first received distinct 
and emphatic utterance, and were presented in tangible and 
organic form. 

To the lasting fame of the New York Young Men's Christian 
Association, let it be said, and repeated, that, then and there, 
in its monthly meeting, on the 27th of May, 1861, the United 
States Christian Commission, in the general, and also in the 
more detailed, plans of its operations, had its origin. 

By a resolution then adopted, having the threefold elements 
of preaching services, individual religious visitations, and pub- 
lications for soldiers' use, " The Army Committee of the New 
York Young Men's Christian Association" was established, 
and Gilead B. Nash, Chairman, Frank W. Ballard, Stephen H. 
Tyng, Jr., and the President, Mr. Vernon, were named as its 
members. This, be it remembered, was the Jirst recognition of 
he army as a field for evangelical labor and effort. 



8 

The committee remained, as above constituted, until the 
August following, when Yincent Colyer, Noble Heath, Jr., 
and Edward Self were added to it, they having, for many 
weeks previous, been most actively engaged in the work — Mr. 
Colyer's connection with the committee dating from June 29th, 
though he had, since the departure of the first regiment, in April, 
been engaged singly in a similar work. 

The first meeting of the committee was held at 2\ "Wall 
Street (Mr. Ballard's office), on the 28th of May, and from that 
time onward daily meetings were held, with great regularity, 
until the organization of the Commission; that office being the 
head quarters in New York, and Mr. Ballard constantly in 
attendance, as the representative of the committee, and gener- 
ally the manager of its affairs. 

It may not be uninteresting to note, here, the date of the 
organization of other societies. The Ladies' Association for 
Relief, <fec, for the purpose of " providing against the time of 
wounds and sickness in the army," was formed 25th April, 
1861; and the Sanitary Commission, which grew directly out 
of it, was established under the patronage and direct sanction 
of the Government, for substantially the same purposes, subse- 
quent to the 18th June, 1861. 

Let us now notice, somewhat in detail, a few of the facts 
which enter into the history of the original " Army Com- 
mittee." 

I. A plan of operations was at once decided upon, which, 
with but a single addition hereafter to be noticed, was adhered 
to throughout. That plan embraced the publication of a col- 
lection of familiar hymns, scripture readings, and prayers fit- 
ted for the soldier's use, of which, at that time, none existed; 
the establishment of devotional meetings in the camps of the 
soldiers in the neighborhood, on Sundays and week-day even- 
ings; the visitation of all regiments as they passed through 
the city, supplying them with religious reading, and the hold- 
ing of religious services, if their stay allowed time and oppor- 
tunity; the organization of a working Christian force in every 
regiment, by which it was hoped to strengthen followers of 
Christ in the army to resist the temptations which would 



9 

thickly crowd about them; and the aid and support of chap- 
lains in their arduous tasks. A correspondence with chaplains 
and others, in and out of the army, was devised, as one means 
of accomplishing this result. 

II. The first active work undertaken was the holding meet- 
ings AMONG THE SOLDIERS. 

The city was then surrounded with camps, and filled with 
soldiers' barracks; and there were few chaplains to conduct 
services; out of twenty-two camps visited by Mr. George P. 
Rowan, and mentioned in one of his reports, only four had 
chaplains attached to them — and one of these had, for all re- 
ligious purposes, better have been elsewhere. This matter was 
placed in the hands of a subordinate committee, of which Mr. 
Thomas G. Baker was chairman, and on the following Sabbath 
a large number of meetings were held. It soon became appar- 
ent, however, that some one must be employed to arrange for 
these services, as the task at once became burdensome, indeed; 
accordingly, on June 4th, the services of the Rev. L. C. Lock- 
wood were secured for this purpose, and he was thus employed 
fourteen weeks and one-half. 

From that time, the visitation of the local regiments and 
those in transitu was carried on together, Mr. Edward Colgate 
being chairman of the special committee charged with the in- 
terests of this latter class of soldiers, and also co-operating 
heartily in the general work of the Committee on Devotional 
Meetings. 

In all cases where there were chaplains attached to regi- 
ments, and but very few had then been appointed, the meetings 
were held under arrangements made with them; but in most 
instances these services were solely under the control of mem- 
bers of our Association, though always held with the consent 
and approbation of the officer in command of the camps or 
barracks. 

All the barracks in the city were visited frequently, includ- 
ing the Park, Palace Garden, Battery, and others less known; 
and in the various regiments that were successively located at 
Rikers Island, the South Brother, Elm Park, Saltersville, N. 
J., Willett's Point, New Dorp, Camp Scott, East New York, 
Yonkers, Scarsdale, and other places within a radius of thirty 



10 

miles around the city, services were held with as much regular- 
ity as the circumstances of the forming state of these organiza- 
tions would allow. 

During the six months, or rather less, to which the state- 
ment now submitted is confined, more than three hundred of 
these meetings were held, and with the happiest results; the 
soldiers were not the only persons benefited — our own represent- 
atives received back in their own hearts an hundredfold the 
good they conferred. They were gladly received by both of- 
ficers and men, and scarcely an instance can now be recalled 
when they were in any way unkindly treated. 

Do you ask the character of these services ? They were 
earnest and spiritual; and how could they be otherwise ? The 
men who listened had just left home and loving friends to risk 
the deadly chances of war; those who actively engaged in the 
exercises were of the same class — for every effort was made 
to bring out the Christian element in the camps — or else volun- 
teers from the Association, or among its friends, who had en- 
tered upon the duty, realizing the awful crisis in which we all 
then stood. Would that I could read to you here from the 
letters which have passed under my eyes describing the ardor 
of religious and devotional feelings with which these services 
were conducted, or convey to each of you a sense of the bur- 
dens which oppressed my own heart upon occasions when I 
was permitted to take part in these solemn transactions. 
Imagine yourselves in the same situation, with these men, 
whom you would never meet again on earth, on their way 
to battle and to death, before you, and if your heart is in the 
least devoted to the Saviour, you can picture, better than my 
words can do it, the deeply interesting character of these three 
hundred Christian services. 

On some Sabbath days twenty appointments were made and 
promptly filled; but that you may not have an exaggerated 
opinion respecting them, I give you here the assignment of 
fourteen services for one day — 4th August — as an average 
Sabbath list for the season. You will observe they cover a 
wide field, and must have furnished employment for a large 
number of men, as they made these visits in companies of 
three or four: 



11 

10.| a.m., Palace Garden. Col. John Cochrane's U. S. 
Chasseurs. 

10^ A - M -> Willett's Point, Long Island. Part of Col. Coch- 
rane's regiment. (Or as near 10| as possible.) 

10^ a.m., Elm Park, Bloomingdale Road and 87th Street. 
Lincoln Cavalry, (German.) And probably an afternoon meet- 
ing. 

10| a.m., Elm Park. N. Y. Mounted Rifles. And prob- 
ably an afternoon meeting. 

10 a.m., Quarantine Barracks, Staten Island. President's 
Life Guard. 

11 a.m., Quarantine Barracks, Staten Island. Clinton 
Rifles. 

2 p.m., Camp Scott, Staten Island. 2d Fire Zouaves, Col. 
James Pairman. 

3 p.m., Camp Scott, Staten Island. Col. Graham's 5th 
Regiment. 

4 p.m., Fort Hamilton, Long Island. Col. Perry's Conti- 
nental Guard. 

4£ p.m., Palace Garden, 14th Street, N. Y. U. S. Chas- 
seurs. 

3 p.m., Scott Rifles, at Silver Lake, Staten Island. 1£ miles 
from Quarantine. 

3 p.m., Disbrow's Riding Academy, 5th Avenue and 39th 
Street. N. Y. Mounted Rifles. 

1 p.m., East New York. Col. Moore's Washington Greys. 

10^ a.m., Broadway Park, Bloomingdale Road, about 90th 
Street. 

III. The Committee sought, by public meetings, to arouse 
the people to an appreciation of the magnitude and gravity of 
the duty with which they were charged. Three only can be 
here specially mentioned. The first occurred ten days after the 
appointment of the Committee, at Cooper Institute, 6th June, 
1861; it was very large and most enthusiastic; it was presided 
over by William E. Dodge, Esq.— one justly renowned in the 
history of Christian philanthropy — who stated with great clear- 
ness and precision the scheme and purpose of the Association 
in the work now assumed, and its overshadowing importance. 
Drs. Tyng, Hague, Hitchcock and Adams, and Simeon B. Chit- 



12 

tenden, Esq., lent to the new movement the great weight of their 
names and characters, by an active participation in the exerci- 
ses. The children of the Asylum for the Blind, contributed ma- 
terially by their exquisite rendering of patriotic and devotional 
songs to deepen the interest and fix the purposes of the people. 
Under a resolution then adopted, Messrs. W. E. Dodge, Wilson 
G. Hunt, Benjamin F. Manierre, Austin Abbott, Benjamin W. 
Bonney and Alexander W. Bradford, were appointed a Commit- 
tee to aid in the collection of the necessary funds; and as the let- 
ters from these gentlemen accepting the appointment have been 
in my hands, I take it upon me to say that the leading Christian 
men of New York were not behind any, in fully appreciating the 
importance of the movement. But a few days thereafter, a care- 
fully prepared and most eloquent appeal was issued by this 
Committee, which obtained a prominent place in all our papers, 
and was largely circulated through the mails, and contributed 
materially to the success of this new enterprise. 

Again, July 28th, Sunday evening, one week after the battle 
of " Bull Run," a very large and most interesting meeting was 
held in Dr. Hague's Church, when reports from our delegates 
at Washington were presented, a candid and complete state- 
ment of the whole service thus far rendered by the Committee 
was presented by Mr. Vernon, and addresses were made by 
Drs. Hague and Tyng, and the Chaplain of the 71st N. Y. S. 
M., Rev. S. E. Pierce, bearing directly upon the wants of the 
Association, in the efforts then being made by the Committee, 
for the relief of the wounded and dying soldiers. One benefit 
derived from this meeting was at once felt by the delegates 
at Washington, in the increased quantity of supplies sent for- 
ward. 

But one of the most interesting and profitable of all the gener- 
al services, was that arranged for the afternoon of " Fast Day," 
the last Thursday of September, at Calvary Baptist Church, 
" which was rendered by its large attendance, and the solemn 
character it assumed, one of the memorable meetings of that 
historic day." 

Would that time allowed me to describe with fullness the 
deeply interesting character of these and many kindred gather- 
ings, together with the " Union Prayer Meetings for the 



13 

Soldiers," called by this Committee, or by the Association in 
its behalf, to all of which the pastors and members of the 
churches responded in the most hearty manner, displaying a 
real interest in the soldier, and a true faith in God. 

IV. Another service rendered was the publication of " The 
Soldier's Hymn Book," and its large circulation, together 
with the issues of other organizations. Our "book" was 
issued, 16th June, 1861, and to those curious in such matters let 
me say, that it was mainly compiled by Rev. J. II. Burtis, the 
prefatory note written by Mr. Vernon, and the address of the 
Committee, on the last page of the cover, by Mr. Ballard. 
This was the first and best publication of its kind for use in 
the army. Indeed, so far as I have been able to learn, nothing 
of this character of importance had then been issued from any 
quarter. A compilation from the Book of Common Prayer, 
though larger and less portable, was approved by the Bishop, 
on the 13th of June, and could not probably have been issued 
till some days later. 

I quote from our " Tenth Annual Report " a sketch of that 
successful book — " The Soldier's Hymn Book :" 

" It at once attained great popularity, and, having been stereotyped, reached 
in rapidly succeeding editions a circulation of over one hundred thousand 
copies. Of this large number seventy thousand copies were published and 
distributed by our Committee in the course of their operations, and the re- 
mainder were furnished to the Young Men's Chiistian Associations of Phil- 
adelpha, Brooklyn and Chicago, and to the American Sunday School Union, 
for distribution in their respective fields of labor. These Associations sup- 
plied the funds for the several editions used by them, and under their 
auspices this useful hymn book has been permitted to do its work in the 
camp, in the hospital, and on the march, wherever a medium of distributing 
it was at hand. To those who have not seen the book, a few words respect- 
ing it may not be uninteresting. 

' ' The ' Soldier's Hymn Book ' is of vest-pocket size, contains seventy-seven 
hymns and songs, of which sixty-one are devotional, and the others temperance 
and patriotic ; with a preface explaining its purpose, and a card uj:>oii the last 
cover soliciting comrmmications from the soldiers as to any deprivations or 
inconveniences such as it is in the power of the Association to mitigate or 
diminish. The front cover is ornamented with a cut of the national ensign, 
with the motto beneath it, taken from oue of the hymns : 

" 'For right is right, since God is God, 
And right the day must win ; 
To doubt would be disloyalty, 
To falter would be sin.' " 



14 

It would now be scarcely possible to compute the number of 
soldiers' books and tracts, which subsequently bore upon their 
front this single stanza, and the people everywhere adopted it as 
expressing, with popular conciseness and beauty, the ground of 
their faith that the final victory would be for the national 
cause. 

But the Committee did not confine their efforts to the circu- 
lation of the " Hymn Book." They employed every thing fit 
for their purpose that could be obtained. The first contribu- 
tion to their stock, in this department, was made by Mr. Anson 
D. F. Randolph, an original member and present friend of the 
Association. The various religious publication societies of 
New York, Philadelphia, and Boston, the American Tract 
Societies of New York and Boston, the Evangelical Knowl- 
edge Society, the American and Foreign Bible Society, the 
Society for Promoting Religion and Learning in N. Y., as 
well as many publishing houses, and individuals, made most 
generous donations. A large quantity of Douay Testaments 
were also obtained, in consequence of repeated calls for them 
by soldiers, and carefully distributed wherever those were 
found who desired them. And in all not less than $6,000 worth 
of religious reading matter was received by donation, and 
most thoroughly and judiciously distributed. 

The regiments forming in or passing through the city, were 
visited and supplied ; and packages sent to all quarters — 
Washington, Alexandria, Fortress Monroe, Cairo, Camp '■ Jo. 
Holt," <fcc, and especially I would mention the supply of the 
whole " Kentucky Brigade," commanded by General Robert 
Anderson, it having for Chaplain the Rev. Mj:. Chidlaw, so 
famous as a Sunday School Missionary. 

It is safe to assume, that when this Committee closed its 
labors, a copy of the " Soldier's Hymn Book " had, either by 
the representatives of the Association, or by other hands, been 
given to every third man in the Union army, more than one 
hundred thousand having been published. 

Y. The Committee soon found that there were many persons 
holding office and drawing pay as chaplains, who were utterly 
unfit for the positions they filled, and the Secretary of War 
having issued an order bearing upon that matter, he was 



15 

memorialized, July 1st, upon the subject. In this paper, the 
facts touching the character and fitness — or rather unfitness — 
of some of these harpies, were plainly set forth. 

This drew from the Secretary, July 6th, a most emphatic 
condemnation of incompetent and unworthy chaplains, and an 
expression of the " sincere pleasure " which would be ex- 
perienced by that officer in the dismissal of such men. He 
then observes : 

"I am decidedly of the opinion that it would be far better for the volunteer 
regiments to be without chaplains, than to be demoralized by unworthy men, 
who, solely from motives of gain, desecrate the sacred character of the position 
they assume. Such appointments are in direct contravention of the express 
recommendation of the Department, and are, at the same time, a deliberate 
outrage upon the religious sentiment of the age." 

The memorial and reply were largely circulated through the 
public press, became the subject of much approving comment, 
and, doubtless, contributed greatly to break up a practice which 
some dishonest and unworthy men had already introduced, of 
appointing political favorites and suspended clergymen to the 
responsible post of regimental chaplain. 

VI. On the morning of Monday, 2 1 st July, the people of the 
North were informed by the telegraph, which we have now 
come to appreciate, that our troops had, the day preceding, 
won a great victory at Bull Run, and that " the back bone of 
rebellion was broken." In the afternoon of that day we 
learned that the human mind had made such advances, that a 
lie could be perpetrated by the use of a moderate supply of 
lightning, and that instead of a great victory, our troops were 
flying, panic stricken, upon Washington, and it was added, by 
way of consolation, that the invincible Beauregard was in pur- 
suit, at the head of the mythical " Black Horse Cavalry." A 
panic seemed to seize all classes, and people stared at each other 
not knowing what to do, or even what to propose. 

On that afternoon, Mr. Colyer proposed the Mission to 
Washington, and one day later, 23d June, in the afternoon, 
Messrs. Ballard and Colyer started on that service as the rep- 
resentatives of our Army Committee. They reached Wash- 
ington on the morning of the 24th, immediately obtained ad- 
mittance to the hospitals, and from that time on, this Associa- 



16 

tion may be said to have had its representatives in that city, 
till the organization of the " Christian Commission," for Mr. 
Colyer's absences were infrequent and brief, and even on those 
occasions some one acted for him. 

Our delegates found every thing in confusion, but " an abun- 
dance to do." One thus writes : 

' ' We found the men delighted to see us. They said we were the first 
visitors they had seen. All welcomed us heartily, and thanked us when we 
said we would call again. It was touching to have each suffering soldier point 
out to us some wounded companions, and reqiiest our attention to them." 

The other writes : 

"The soldiers shed tears of delight as we move among them with our offers 
of courtesy and kindness. Their eyes glisten while we are writing for 
them to ' anxious loved ones at home ;' and for myself, I can truly say I never 
had a better day's work than that of yesterday, our first day here. We did 
not leave off till 7 p.m., and are going at it again right away." 

Messers. Vernon, Noble Heath, Jr., Rev. F. S. Rising, and 
M. S. Winchell, M.D., now deceased, also engaged in this work, 
and for more than a month from this date there were always 
two, and sometimes more, from our Association thus employed 
in the new field. 

Many hearts at home were made glad by letters from sick 
and wounded soldiers, which, but for our delegates, would not 
have been written. 

Let it be mentioned here, to the honor of a noble body of 
men, that a generous gift at this time of $300 from the "Artists' 
Patriotic Fund," tended greatly to the early success of this 
mission. 

Such a work as this must abound in incident, but your 
patience would more that tire were I to attempt to detail the 
tithe of those which now exist, either in print, or in the mass 
of letters and journals of the delegates, not to mention even 
those stored in the memory, which can always be obtained for 
the asking. I quote one from a paper furnished me by Mr. 
Heath : 

"We found a fine, noble looking man, who lay upon his back in one of the 
brigade hospitals, at Alexandria ; very little conversation covdd be had with 
him, as he seemed extremely reticent, but happy to have seen us and profited 
by our interview. Two days after when we called, we saw him lying dead 
before us, and learned that he had died of a wound in the back, which w as 



17 

entirely unknown till after his decease, as he was (oo proud to acknowledge 
such a wound, even for the purpose of prolonging life." 

I now quote from one of Mr. Colyer's letters : 

"A soldier of a Maine regiment— Mr. Judkins — lay dangerously wounded. 
I noticed that he had been growing weaker and paler. He was too weak to 
converse. I offered him some books; he selected one with the title 'Come 
to Jesus' prettily printed on the cover, and desired me to place it before him 
where he could keep his eyes upon it. I did so, putting it on the window sill 
opposite him. He died that night; but the watcher said he died with his 
eyes fixed on the title of that little book." 

An advertisement was inserted in the daily papers, as our 
deputation started for Washington, announcing the fact and 
the purposes of the mission, and that the delegates would 
transmit information to friends of soldiers in response to 
letters sent to the office of the Committee in New York, 
"specifying the regiment, company, and other necessary par- 
ticulars, respecting the subject of inquiry." A large number of 
such letters were received by the Committee, and forwarded to 
the delegates, many of them containing communications ad- 
dressed to the " lost ones." All such cases were, as far as 
possible, carefully sought out, and letters delivered, or responses 
to inquiries dispatched, to the great comfort of both soldier 
and friends at home. The men were delighted with the services 
thus rendered to them, and one member of the 11 th N. Y. V., 
" Fire Zouaves," thus visited, after ascertaining that our 
delegates were representatives of the Young Men's Christian 
Association of New York, was overjoyed at the attention, and 
declared with great solemnity of tone, and in the elegant 
language of his "craft," that ever after "he should run with 
that machine." 

During the first four days of this Mission, no clergyman, or even 
chaplain, was seen by our delegates in any hospital visited by 
them. Indeed, it was not then generally understood that com- 
mon soldiers had souls. If they had ever possessed them, the 
prevalent opinion, especially among subordinate army officers,, 
appeared to be, that the individual parted with that indispen- 
sable element in the composition of a complete man, upon taking 
the oath of a private in the ranks. And it is due to this Com- 
mittee to say that their early efforts aided materially in working 
the mighty change which came over our people in this regard. 
2 



18 

In fulfillment of this mission, our Committee at once com- 
menced the distribution of hospital stores, and comforts of all 
sorts, as the necessity of the soldiers and their own supplies 
warranted, embracing even articles to replace those lost on the 
retreat; and most generous contributions, by residents of this 
city, Brooklyn, and other more remote places, were promptly 
made, to the estimated value of $12,000; and the "Jamaica 
wagon " of the representative of our Association and of 
the Army Committee, with its load of reading and stores, 
became as well known in the city of Washington and the camps 
in the vicinity, as were subsequently the wagons of the Christian 
Commission, of which it was the prototype. An office was 
early secured in Washington, 251 F street, which was regularly 
advertised, was the depot for all our supplies, and was well 
known to all who then had any sympathy with the work. 

Nor was the service without official recognition of the most 
exalted and honorable character. Two wealthy Christian 
ladies, then in Washington, were early interested in our work 
in that city, and on August 17th, secured, at their own charges, 
a chaplain for one of the hospitals, requesting Mr. Cclyer, our 
representative, to select a fit clergyman whom they could thus 
employ. Subsequently, being on terms of intimacy with General 
Scott, at that time the commander of all our armies, they re- 
hearsed to him the story of our army work, and requested a 
pass to be used in its prosecution; he, unsolicited by any repre- 
senting our agency, caused his aide to inquire of Mr. Colyer 
how full it would be desirable to make such a pass. Mr. Col- 
yer replied — having then in view the Christian Commission — 
for the whole army, and thereupon the Adjutant- General sent 
the following, signed by the General himself : 

" Headquaeteks op the Army, ) 

"Washington, Aug. 30, 1861. j 

" Mr. Vincent Colyer, of the Army Committee of the New York Young Men's 
Christian Association, in the prosecution of his benevolent labors in the camps 
and hospitals, will be permitted to pass through the United States lines at all 
times, and is commended to the courtesy of the troops. 

"By Command. (Signed) WINFIELD SCOTT. 

*'H. Van Rensselaer, Col. and Aide-de-Camp. " 

When this was countersigned by Gen. McClellan, for Mr. 
Colyer's use in his mission to North Carolina, he restricted 



19 

it to an unlimited pass ivitliin our army lines, not deeming it 
wise to longer allow such extended liberty as that given by 
Gen. Scott. In a long career of high honor and most distin- 
guished usefulness, that veteran soldier and diplomatist has not 
performed a single act which better shows a heart noble and 
generous, than that I have now detailed. 

Never before, in all history, had a Christian organization 
been seen in military hospitals and camps, preaching the Word, 
nursing the sick and wounded, feeding the hungry, and clothing 
those made naked by the chances of war. True, hospital 
nursing had its fascinations, and its colors of fancy, for it was 
blended in every mind with the gentle misdon of Florence 
Nightingale to the fever-cots of the neglected soldiers at 
Scutari; but the blending of all these services under one Chris- 
tian organization, marks an epoch in the Master's work. We 
are now brought to that point in the career of our original 
" Army Committee," where it embraced, in its scheme of labor 
and of usefulness, the whole plan of the subsequent work 
of the great Commission, as it visited camp after camp, and 
hospital after hospital, a very angel of mercy, owned and 
blessed of the Saviour, bearing in one hand meat for the body 
that perisheth, and in the other, " the bread of life." 

But I have not known any more pleasant reminder of this 
early work of our brethren than occurred a few months since. 
A leading member of the New Orleans Association, on a 
visit to our city, was presented to a member of the Army 
Committee, when he said, " In July, 1861, I was very sick in 
one of the Alexandria hospitals, of typhoid fever, being then 
a member of a regiment from this State; and was most care- 
fully watched and kindly addressed by a delegate from your 
Association for many days, but his name has escaped me." 
He was asked to describe the delegate, and out of the disor- 
dered fancies of the fever-patient, and from its confused and 
fading visions, he drew a faithful portrait of P. Harwood Ver- 
non. Surely there are others than the members of this Asso- 
ciation who retain a vivid recollection of the services now re- 
called to mind. 

VII. During the whole period of the Committee's work a 
most extensive Correspondence was conducted by Mr. Tyng 



20 

on its behalf, (see circular under which this correspondence 
was instituted, Appendix B,) with something over two hundred 
chaplains. This had a fourfold object: the supply of the sol- 
diers with religious reading; the ascertainment of the needs 
of the chaplains, that they might be met, if possible; their 
encouragement in the performance of the perplexing duties 
devolved upon them, by expressions of sympathy and offers of 
assistance; and the accumulation of information to be employed 
in urging the formation of the general society, and developing 
the plans for its future operations. 

On the 27th August, after the determination had become 
fixed to call for united action on the part of all the Associa- 
tions of the loyal States, Mr. Colyer, as the resident represent- 
ative of the Army Committee, issued a circular letter from the 
headquarters, 251 F Street, at Washington, addressed to the 
chaplains, in which we were pledged to an effort to secure the 
co-operation of all the Associations. Upon the basis of this 
pledge, and work already performed, they were asked to answer, 
frankly and fully, the list of eighty-five questions which were 
appended. These interrogatories were prepared with the ut- 
most care by Mr. Colyer, and then submitted by him to some 
half-score of the most competent chaplains, and form a most 
ingenious and curious document; and the responses, if carefully 
and conscientiously prepared, would furnish a remarkable body 
of information. (This paper is given in Appendix E, as return- 
ed to the Committee by one of the chaplains.) 

More than sixty chaplains returned these circulars, with very 
full replies to the questions, being nearly all then with the 
Army of the Potomac; and these papers are now in the posses- 
sion of a member of the Army Committee. 

VIII. In September application was made to the Commit- 
tee, by Rev. J. S. Inskip, chaplain of the 14th N. Y. V.. for a 
Chapel Tent. In urging this matter, he said: 

" For want of a chapel tent my work has been most seriously hindered. 
Most of our meetings are held at night in my quarters, where the accommo- 
dations are by no means adequate. Had we a suitable tent, we could have 
a very large attendance at these meetings, which are held nightly; and I am 
confident great good could, with the Divine blessing, be accomplished. * * * 
I am in earnest in my application, knowing how important the matter is. 
Help me, if you can. Should you do any thing, it must be done quickly." 



21 

A special meeting of the Association was at once called, 
and the tent provided, the first gift of a chapel tent for the sol- 
diers. Nor had the lack been supplied when the special con- 
vention assembled, for it was a topic of consideration at that 
time; and a memorial upon the subject, drawn by Mr. E. S. 
Tobey, President of the Boston Association — whose generous 
charities in behalf of our soldiers, and cordial friendship for 
all Young Men's Christian Associations, it delights me here to 
mention — was addressed to the Secretary of War under the au- 
thority of the Convention. But these tents could only be ser- 
viceable when the regiments were in camps somewhat perma- 
nent; when the army was on the march, transportation could 
not be furnished for them, and there was very little opportunity 
for their use. 

IX. The amount of money paid out by the Committee in their 
work was not considerable. At no time were more than two 
persons employed, Messrs. Lockwood and Rowan, and these at 
moderate salaries; on this account but $130 was expended; 
the actual expenses, however, of all who rendered any services 
were paid. No compensation was ever made by the Committee 
to Mr. Colyer, for his long and faithful service, involving a 
complete relinquishment of his business for the time; his was a 
free-will offering. 

The gross sum of money received by the Committee, and by 
them expended, was 12,874, which was mostly collected under 
the sanction of the Committee appointed at the 6th of June 
meeting, by a communication, copied by lithograph, (see Ap- 
pendix C,) from a letter in the handwriting of the treasurer, 
to which was appended a summary statement of the work 
then performed. These, addressed to persons of known liber- 
ality, met with the practical response I have indicated. Some 
collections were taken in churches, and some contributions 
were received, which were prompted by notices and appeals in 
the newspapers. 

X. Allusion has already been made to the effect produced 
upon the popular mind by the action of the Committee. It 
now only remains that I call your attention briefly, but particu- 
larly, to this topic. All means of publicity open were quickly 
employed. The papers gave generous reports of all our meet- 



22 

ings; stirring incidents and judicious appeals were cheerfully 
assigned a place in their columns, by editors; and extended 
letters descriptive of the work, and detailing its interesting 
and useful features, were freely published by the religious jour- 
nals. The result was, that dormant Associations were aroused 
to a consideration of the demands of this great work. Some 
sent forward contributions to our treasury; many, gifts for 
hospital needs; and letters were frequently received asking for 
instructions respecting our mode of operations, in the home 
and distant fields, and detailed statements, to be used in their 
public meetings; and many of our workers, on special invita- 
tion, vieited other associations and localities to present orally 
the claims and inviting character of the field. 

On or about the 25th of August, Rev. Stephen H. Tyng, Jr., 
delivered two addresses in Philadelphia upon this work, one to 
the public generally, and one before the Association of that 
city, upon special invitation. In the latter address, he sketched 
before our brethren the two great branches of the service as 
recognized by the Committee of which he was a member, and 
described our system of labor in each. At this meeting their 
Army Committee was reorganized for active service, under the 
chairmanship of Mr. Peter B. Simmons— a dear friend of many 
members of our Association, as well as my own. 

But the interest thus excited was not limited to the young 
men in these Associations; it extended to the whole body of 
Christian people, and all were awakened, not only in respect to 
the physical well-being of the soldiers, but in regard to their 
souls' health also. 

And thus were the people prepared to render the National 
Society a cordial support when at last it should be organized. 
Will any one pausing here say this whole work, even in its larg- 
est statement, was small and insignificant compared with the 
necessities of the case ? We must all agree that this is true; but 
we must not forget that, until this enterprise started, nothing 
now generally remembered was done, and that for months this 
was the only agency in the field. The agent of the Boston 
Tract Society, Mr. Alvord, did not visit the front for purposes 
of survey, even, until after the October letter of Mr. Colyer — 
to which I shall more particularly advert — was issued, for on 



23 

that visit lie called upon our representative with one in his 
hand. Do not let us forget, that but few at this period com- 
prehended the times upon which we had fallen, for many were 
surprised when the Executive issued the call for 75,000 militia 
to put down the rebellion. 

XI. The reports of the delegates who had made even one 
visit to the hospitals and camps, after " Bull Run," satisfied the 
Army Committee that no local organization could cope success- 
fully with the vast work to which, in the Providence cf God, 
the Christians of the land were thus called; and the idea of a 
general SOCIETY, which should be the organ of the Associa- 
tions, was early suggested by Mr. Colyer, discussed in the Com- 
mitteo and among leading members of our Association, and 
heartily approved. 

On the 22d August, the proposition assumed definite form, in 
a communication of Mr. Colyer from Washington to his col- 
leagues in New York, urging the immediate issue of a general 
circular by them, calling the Convention; this course was sub- 
stantially agreed upon by the Committee, and Mr. Colyer at 
once notified of the concurrence of views upon the subject. 
And he was requested to go forward, in Washington, with such 
influences as would promote the success of the movement. 

The circular letter, with the appended questions, was then 
issued, it having for some time been in preparation, and dis- 
tributed among the chaplains of the Army of the Potomac. 
In New York, the Army Committee immediately issued a letter 
to the Associations of the loyal States, accompanied by a brief 
report of the work thus far accomplished, dated 2d September, 
(see Appendix D,) urging its importance for the whole army; 
the keeping of delegates with its moving columns, bearing 
their supplies of reading matter and of soldier-comforts wher- 
ever they might advance; requesting the prompt appointment 
of an Army Committee in each Association; a meeting of 
all these committees at an early day for conference in New 
York, and the formation of plans for future work. On the 
16th September, after a protracted conference with our Wash- 
ington representative, Mr. Miller, the President of the Associa- 
tion in that city, acceded to the proposition for the special 
Convention, and promised to attend; and on the evening of 



24 

that day, Mr. Colyer started North for the purpose of urging 
the matter in personal interviews upon the leading Associations. 
All of the day and evening of the 17th, was spent by him in 
Philadelphia in pressing this matter upon prominent Associa- 
tion-men in that city, and especially upon Mr. George H. 
Stuart, Chairman of the last Central Committee of the Confed- 
eration, and upon Mr. Grant, the Secretary. They doubted 
the power or right of the Committee to call such a Conven- 
tion, and did not encourage the scheme. Mr. Grant, how- 
ever, requested the preparation of a letter presenting in detail 
the reasons for calling a convention, and the considerations 
which rendered a national organization desirable or expedient. 

After conference with the Committee in New York, Mr. 
Colyer, on the evening of the 18th, started for Boston, and on 
the two following days had conferences with Messrs. Tobey, 
Story, and others of the Boston Association upon this plan of 
the Army Committee. The suggestion was heartily seconded 
by that Association, and at its next meeting, October 3d, del- 
egates were appointed to the proposed Convention, although 
the day had not been then named. The cordial reception of 
our proposition by the Boston brethren greatly encouraged the 
Army Committee and the Association in pressing on to practi- 
cal efficiency the new movement, as did also the generous 
sympathy and countenance of our brethren of the Brooklyn 
Association, with whom it is a delight to feel we are in hearty 
concord. 

# At a meeting of the Association on the 23d September, the 
plan of the Army Committee for a special Convention was sub- 
mitted, and a resolution was then adopted indorsing the same, 
commending the action thus far taken, and creating a Com- 
mittee, of which Mr. Colyer was the chairman, to conduct the 
correspondence and arrange the details of the Convention. 

On the 24th, Mr. Colyer, now charged by the Association and 
the Committee just created with a special duty, called upon Mr. 
Grant of Philadelphia to urge again the immediate issue of a call 
for a convention. He reported that he had attempted to have 
a meeting of the Central Committee, but no quorum could be 
obtained; renewedly urged the preparation of the letter he 



25 

suggested in the first interview, and said, in the event of the 
calling of the Convention, it would probably be printed with 
the call, as giving the reasons for it. (See letter, Appendix 
F.) 

Proceeding at once to "Washington, the letter, of two and 
one-half printed octavo pages, was at once prepared, signed 
by the chairman in the name of the special Committee on the 
Convention, and, October 3d, was dispatched, in print, to Mr. 
Grant at Philadelphia, and a large package placed at the dis- 
posal of his Committee, and it was also circulated by our own 
Committees. This letter is a careful and condensed argument 
in favor of the calling of the Convention, and in it the pro- 
posed general society first received its name, the " Christian 
Commission." 

On the 15th of October Mr. Grant, as Secretary of the Cen- 
tral Committee, addressed a letter to Mr. Vernon, our Presi- 
dent, from which I take the following: 

" The appeal made to the Central Committee desiring them to call a Conven- 
tion of Associations to consider the best means of operating upon the army, 
has been under consideration, and upon the whole appears to be favorably 
received." 

And on the same day he addressed Mr. Colyer a letter, of 
which the following is an extract — referring to the receipt of 
the circulars: 

" Every day since, I have endeavored to get an interview with Mr. Stuart. 
I saw him for a few moments on Saturday and spoke of the matter to him. 
He felt so unwell that he could not give it due consideration, and requested 
me to let it rest for a day or two. The Committee, upon the whole, are favora- 
ble to calling a convention, but without Mr. Stuart's concurrence and co-ope- 
ration we are unwilling to take any decisive step. 

"I have the hope that we will come to a definite arrangement in a day or 
two, when I will immediately communicate with you." 

And in a postscript he adds: 

"The other members of the committee were in conference to-day, and ap- 
peared to conclude that the Convention must be called." 

Some days thereafter, Mr. Vernon received an official letter 
from Mr. Grant, dated 19th October, in which he says: 

"A meeting of the Central Committee was held yesterday afternoon, when 
it was unanimously resolved to call the Convention which your Association so 
earnestly desires. " 



26 

This city, and our rooms in the Bible House, were selected 
as the place of holding the Convention, subject to the approval 
of this Association as to place, and the 7th of November pro- 
posed as the date of meeting; this, however, was subsequently 
changed to the 14th, to give opportunity for communication 
with the most distant associations. 

November 2d, Mr. Grant again addressed Mr. Vernon as 
follows: 

"Mr. Stuart has gone down to Washington, with one of the chaplains, and 
doubtless will return with an increased interest in the important movement. 
He desired me to ask you to get the circular, or an allusion to it, inserted in 
the New York religious newspapers ; and also, as your Association has been 
most active among the soldiers, to suggest to you the propriety of some one 
of the New York brethren being appointed to bring forward (in a written pa- 
per, if necessary) the subject before the Convention; probably Bro. Colyer 
would be the best one to do this." 

On the day thus designated, the special Convention of Chris- 
tian Associations met at the place designated by Mr. Grant; 
fifteen associations, viz., Boston, Bridgeport, Waterbury, Stam- 
ford, Danbury, Troy, Amsterdam, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Trenton, 
Philadelphia, Washington, Cincinnati, Chicago and New York, 
were represented by fifty delegates. George H. Stuart, since 
the efficient chairman of the Commission — whose deserved fame 
is in all lands — was selected for president, and the sessions were 
continued till the evening of the 15th. 

The address of welcome, customary at all our Conventions, 
was delivered by Rev. Dr. Tyng, in which he presented fully, 
and with rare eloquence and power, our purpose in urging the 
call of the Convention, the vast work waiting, and the plain 
duty of the Christian men and women of the land, not only in 
respect of the proposed work, but touching also the war and 
its cause. 

The numerous phases of religious work in the army were 
detailed, and fully discussed by the various delegates; and a 
long, elaborate and most interesting statement was made by 
Mr. Colyer, representing and speaking in behalf of the two 
committees of which he was a member, and of our association, 
covering the whole field of service, and founded upon his 
ample personal experience and the vast amount of information 
derived from the body of correspondence already mentioned. 



27 

A draft of a proposed plan for a Christian Commission, 
prepared by Charles Demond, Esq., of Boston, who served as 
a member of the new organization with the most untiring de- 
votion till the end of the war, was submitted by the business 
committee, and after careful discussion, and some modification, 
adopted. Twelve gentlemen, clergymen and laymen, one or 
more residing in each of the cities, Boston, New York, Phila- 
delphia, Buffalo, Washington, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. 
Louis, were placed upon the Commission, and it was declared 
to have been established as the organ and executive agent of 
the Christian Associations of the land, instructed to communi- 
cate with them through their army committees, and to report 
direct to them. 

For fuller details respecting this interesting and historic 
gathering, reference must be had to the tenth annual report of 
the Association, which contains a sketch of the proceedings, 
written, as I understand, by the gentleman who acted as Sec- 
retary of the Convention. 

Suffer me to advert for one moment to another incident of 
the Special Convention, as illustrating the views of the work- 
ers in this enterprise at that early period, respecting the 
national conflict, and the results to be secured in it, and reflect- 
ing the highest credit upon them. 

At the last session, one of the New York delegates, Mr. 
Ballard, under the sanction of the members of " The Army 
Committee," offered, among others then presented, the follow- 
ing resolution : 

"Resolved, That the doctrine enunciated by Major-General Fremont with 
respect to the emancipation of the slaves of rebels, and the more recent utter- 
ances of General Burnside, Senator Wilson and the Hon. George Bancroft, in 
this city, and I he Secretary of War at Washington, foreshadowing the event- 
ual rooting out of slavery, as the cause of the rebellion, indicate alike a moral, 
political and military necessity; and, in the judgment of this Convention, the 
public sentiment of the North is now fully in sympathy with any practicable 
scheme which may be presented for the extirpation of this national evil, and 
will accept such result as the only consistent issue of this contest between 
civilization and barbarism." 

This resolution was opposed by the Boston delegation on the 
ground that such a deliverance by the Convention would inter- 
fere with the raising of money in their city for the new Com- 



28 

mission, and was not among the objects of the Convention ; 
and by the President, Mr. George H. Stuart, Rev. Dr. Baird, 
of Philadelphia, and Mr. Scudder, of the Trenton Association, 
on general grounds of inexpediency, as then understood. On 
a test vote, under a motion to lay the resolution on the table, 
the Convention declared in favor of its adoption by strongly 
rejecting the motion. But, the members of our own delega- 
tion, not under the influence of a weakness of purpose, (for 
this they have never manifested,) but controlled by an earnest 
desire not to defeat, or in any way hinder the new organiza- 
tion in pressing forward the great work for Christ, so dear to 
their own hearts, yielded to the solicitations of the minority, 
and obtained leave to withdraw the resolution. Within 
two weeks, however, it received the approval of a vast con- 
course of the citizens of New York, at a public meeting, and 
subsequent events have vindicated every one of its enuncia- 
tions. 

Abraham Lincoln, just, wise, pure, martyred, by sanctioning 
the principles it declares with his official power and title, made 
his " a name which Liberty herself, in every country where her 
power is acknowledged, has consecrated to immortal renown," 
placed the Nation on the side with Divine Providence, and 
made the Government, in fact, as in name, Free. 

The task assigned to me is now completed. You have seen, 
but in glimpses, how the work was commenced; that the field 
grew wide and long before the laborers; that our brothers did 
not bow down beneath the burdens, but manfully trusting in 
Him who has said, " as thy day so shall thy strength be," strove 
to bear them on; that great success crowned their efforts, " the 
blessing of him that was ready to perish" came upon them, and 
upon the Association; that the work became popular, one 
Association after another taking it up, the churches and people 
of Christ approving it, until at last it is all centered in one 
national organization, born of our early efforts, and in our own 
rooms, and having a name of our own selection: the United 
States Christian Commission. 

It is not my province to advert, at length, to the vast bene- 
fits conferred upon the whole land by the untiring ministrations 



29 

and appeals of the new organization. The whole of that great 
story is soon to be written. But we rejoice in it all, as the 
father rejoices over the son whom he has educated and trained, 
and who is developing in grand deeds of Christian usefulness, 
his original plan of life. 

Nor is it for me here to rehearse the transactions, or the line 
of dealings which resulted in a practical exclusion of our 
Association from a participation in the general work, as repre- 
sentatives of the Christian public of our own city, as was con- 
templated by the organic law of the Commission. Suffice it to 
say that every thing was done and conceded by us that it was fit 
for Christian men to do or concede; we were blameless; but the 
measures which resulted in a modification and perhaps restric- 
tion of the charitable impulses of our citizens, and diverted 
into other less efficient and less appropriate channels their 
regal benefactions, originated in and urged from another city, 
can not be vindicated or upheld upon any principles of Christian 
manliness or good faith. Even the high character of the 
gentlemen named long afterwards, as the New York Commit- 
tee of the Commission, their indefatigable services, and their 
ardent devotion to the work they had assumed, did not restore 
the National Society to its proper place in the confidence and 
regard of our citizens. 

Neither is it permitted me to describe the subsequent work 
of other Army Committees, of Committees on HospitalWatchers, 
and on Public Meetings, in respect of the moral and religious 
aspects of the war; nor can I follow in his unpaid but blessed 
labors, our former Vice-President, Mr. Colyer, in his subse- 
quent individual campaign of a year or more, with the Union 
Army, and among the poor of the Southern States, where his 
labors were crowned with a distinguished honor. He there 
opened the first school for the freedmen in North Carolina. 

To the new enterprise of the Association, as here sketched, 
we may apply, not improperly, the words of Lord Bacon: " if 
a man perform that which hath not been attempted before; 
or attempted and given over; or hath been achieved, but 
not with so good circumstance; he shall purchase more honor, 
than by effecting a matter of greater difficulty or virtue, 
wherein he is but a follower." Here, however, the matter was 



30 

of great difficulty and virtue, and had never " been attempted 
before;" and surely it was of " Goodness," which the same wise 
man tells us " is the affecting of the weal of man, * 

of all virtues and dignities of the mind the greatest, being the 
character of the Deity." 

Thrice glad that the Saviour and Master, whom we follow, has 
thus permitted our Association to serve in His great vineyard, 
and has crowned the service with the abundant evidence of 
His approval and love; recognizing the weakness of all mere 
earthly effort and influence, the utter inadequacy of human 
means and powers, and knowing that " every good gift is of 
God," we bend in joyous gratitude before Him, saying, " Not 
unto us, Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory." 

Brethren ! Are we to-day, with far happier surroundings, a 
more numerous membership, well adjusted machinery, greater 
resources, and the active sympathy and co-operation of the 
Christian men and women of New York, prepared to continue 
our work in the chosen field at home, with the alacrity, vigor, 
and perseverance which characterized the Association in that 
just described ? The souls of the army of young men who 
crowd these busy streets, and serve in countless banks and 
stores and warehouses, many of whom nightly frequent the dens 
of vice and infamy which pollute our city, or now tread, with 
careless steps, the dizzy height of great temptations, call for but 
one answer. For that, those who love them are waiting; and 
the blessed Saviour, to whom you have pledged your best 
efforts, your most exalted endeavors, yourselves even, stoops 
from His heavenly throne to catch that answer in its earliest 
utterance, and to watch your performance. Answer ye 1 

" By their fruits shall ye know them." 



APPENDIX. 



A. 

Akmy Committee of the N. Y. Y. M. Chk'n Assoc'n, ) 
Office, 2k Wall st. Address, Box 1219, P. 0. ) 

Deae Sie — We take great pleasure in submitting for your examination and 
approval a copy of "The Soldier's Hymn Book." We have no hesitation in 
seeking for this little book a wide circulation, knowing as we do that it meets 
the wants of the soldiers, and that it is adapted to become an instrumentality 
of much good in our missionary efforts among them. Our first edition of 
25,000 copies is now quite exhausted. We have supplied numerous regiments 
at Washington, Fortress Monroe, Trenton, Elmira, New York and other places. 
The orders upon our table, from chaplains, more than cover any ability of 
supply we possess. Kev. Mr. Chidlaw, Chaplain of Col. Anderson's Kentucky 
Brigade, asks us for 10,000 copies; the several regiments of the Excelsior 
Brigade have made repeated requests for 5,000 copies; and similar applica- 
tions daily reach us from the camps near Washington, begging us to send an 
immediate supply. The Chaplains unite in expressing their satisfaction 
with the book and their wish to give a copy to every man in the army. What 
are we to do ? We dare not decline the work which God has, in His Provi- 
dence, opened before us. We must go on, in the confidence that the Master 
will furnish the requisite means through His servants. 

To further this object, we have thought that individual members of the 
several churches might be willing to assume the responsibility of the work in 
such regiments as they may prefer. $25 will supply every man in a regiment 
a thousand strong. Can not you help us to this extent, or will you not collect 
and send to us contributions which we may apply to the distribution of a 
book so universally popular and useful among our volunteers ? 

We ask money for no other branch of our many-sided work ; but the 
exigency of so sudden a demand for our Hymn Book seems to warrant us in 
making this appeal. 

Awaiting your reply, I am, in behalf of the Army Committee, 
Your obedient servant, 

FRANK W. BALLARD, 

Sec'y and Treas'r. 



32 

B. 

Office of the Army Committee, 2g Wall street, \ 
Post Office Address, Box 1219, P. 0. j 

New York, . 

My Dear Sir — I liave been requested by the Army Committee of the New 
York Young Men's Christian Association to open a correspondence with you 
in relation to the work they have assumed. It is, specifically, the supply 
of the religious wants of the soldiers. We are anxious to become the 
medium of communication between chaplains and the different religious 
publication societies of the city. Such arrangements have already been made 
as will enable us to furnish you any books, taicts. papers, &c, that you may 
require in the prosecution of your work. Our Soldier's Hymn Book will be 
forwarded to you for gratuitous distribution among the' men of your regiment 
as soon as we receive an order to that effect from yourself. You will greatly 
aid and encourage our patrons by communicating, from time to time, any 
incidents connected with the religious work among the soldiers. 

That God may greatly bless you in your labor of love, and give you success 
in winning souls to Jesus, shall be the constant prayer of 
Your brother in Christ, 

STEPHEN H. TYNG, Jr. 



C. 

New York, August 3d, 1861. 

Dear Sir — A condensed report of what has been done by the "Army Com- 
mittee" of the New York Young Men's Christian Association will be found 
annexed. Our labors have not been in vain, as abundant evidence assures us. 
Providence has superadded to our other duties that of ministering to the 
lonely sufferers in the several Hospitals in and near Washington, where some 
nine hundred sick and wounded soldiers are now confined. To occupy this 
field has seemed to be our obvious duty, and we have already been permitted 
to cultivate it advantageously. 

The members of the Young Men's Christian Association eagerly offer to 
perform Hospital duty, asking only that their exjtenses shall be paid by the 
Committee. There is no time to be lost in prosecuting this eminently Chris- 
tian work, and we appeal earnestly for prompt and liberal contributions to sus- 
tain it. May we not count upon your co-operation iu this mission of mercy? 

Any donation you may see fit to make will be gratefully received and duly 
acknowledged. In behalf of the "Army Committee," I am, with much 
respect, Your obedient servant, 

FRANK W. BALLARD, TreasW. 
No. 2 A Wall st. P. O. Address, Box 1219. 

To the Relatives and Friends of the Soldiers in the United States Army: 

The Army Committee of the New York Young Men's Christian Association 
presents the following Statement of its Operations in providing for the reli- 
gious wants of our army in the field: 



33 

Publications. — Thus far two editions (35,000 copies) have been issued of 
that excellent and popular collection of hymns and songs already celebrated 
as the "Soldier's Hymn Book." The reception of this little book by the 
volunteers is most enthusiastic, and the demands for it far exceed the present 
possibility of supply. At the request of the Committee, Eev. G. M. Butler, 
D. D., of Washington City, is compiling for the use of the Army Chaplains 
a collection of laws, usages and hints relative to Chaplains and their work. 
This compilation will be issued as soon as completed. 

Visitation. — At the request of home friends, individuals among the volun- 
teers, temporarily here, have been sought out, counseled and cared for, and 
the Committee still stand ready to respond to similar letters of suggestion 
from the relatives and friends of the soldiers. Every regiment of troops 
passing through the city during the last six weeks has been visited, and the 
Chaplain waited upon, and generally a supply of books furnished. The 
various camps and barracks have all been systematically visited and cared 
for. Among them may be named Saltersville, Cainp Scott, Fort Schuyler, 
Biker's Island, South Brothers, Willett's Point, &c, «tc. 

Distribution. — There has been a systematic and generous circulation of 
hymn books, song books, Bibles, prayer books, mission services, tracts and 
religious papers. Regiments on the way have been carefully supplied with 
religious reading, to their entire satisfaction. In some instances every man 
has had a book given him. By express, packages of hymn books, &c., have 
been forwarded to Washington, Alexandria, Fortress Monroe, Easton, Penn. , 
Camp Olden, N. J., Cairo, Ills., Camp Holt, Ky., &c. In response to letters 
from Chaplains who complain of the inefficiency of existing arrangements, 
the Committee has made preparations for forwarding supplies of secular 
papers to the seat of war. 

Mission Seevices. — More than one hundred week-day prayer meetings, as 
also numerous Sabbath services, have been arranged and maintained by 
members of the committee and the association, in connection with Mr. Lock- 
wood, the Chaplain. Some of the encampments and regimental quarters are 
thus supplied by the committee, exclusively, with religious services; among 
others, Biker's Island, Elm Park, and until recently, the Anderson Zouaves at 
Saltersville, N. J. In co-operation with the regular Chaplains numerous 
devotional meetings have been held with the soldiers at Palace Garden, Wil- 
lett's Point, Camp Scott, East New York, the Battery, Park Barracks, &c, &c. 

Correspondence. — A single member of the committee has conducted a 
correspondence with one hundred and fifty Army Chaplains, located at 
various points, from most of whom prompt and full replies have been 
received, all breathing a most excellent spirit, and giving earnest of an intense-, 
interest on their part in the spiritual welfare of the soldiers. In answer to it» ; 
circulars and requests for assistance, the committee has also received many, 
letters of encouragement and sympathy from our foremost citizens. 

AcxEncies. — The entire time of Rev. L. C. Lockwood is occupied with this 
work in New York and its vicinity, and the small sum for which he is willing 
to perform these labors is the only disbursement of the kind made by the 
committee. To co-operate with him the entire membership of the association 
is committed, and selections are made from them of the most suitable indi- 
viduals to take part in the meetings and assist in the system of visitation and 

3 



• 



34 

distribution. Rev. C. M. Butler, D. D., has kindly acted with and for the 
committee in Washington, and Rev. M. B. Smith, of Passaic, N. J. , is now 
on a tour through the West and Northwest, with a view to advise them of the 
religious condition and wants of the camps in that quarter. An intelligent 
and observant correspondent, in the very vanguard of the army, also supplies 
the committee with valuable information of a practical character. 

Aid to Chaplains. — The committee has acted as the mouthpiece of the 
Chaplains in presenting a memorial to the War Department respecting the 
appointment of improper persons to that position; and also one requesting 
that chapel tents be provided for the several regiments. In this matter they 
have been courteously treated by the government, and have received in return 
for their exertions the warmest thanks of that noble body of men whose inter- 
est they aimed to advance. Nor have their endeavors in this direction been 
vain. 

Such is a summary of the missionary work of the New York Young Men's 
Christian Association. 

We have enlisted for the war. The field is of vast extent and our opera- 
tions are unlimited as to locality. We aim to do good to all the soldiers; 
and what has been accomplished serves to show us how much remains to be 
done, and how welcome to the soldiers are these efforts for their spiritual 
good. But our plans are cramped and fettered by the lack of money for pub- 
lication expenses ; and where large editions of our Soldier's Hymn Book are 
demanded, we are compelled to limit the supply from want of funds to paj r 
for printing the needed number. We appeal, therefore, for contributions, to 
all who feel an interest in this glorious work. Address, Box 1219, Post Office, 
New York City, GILEAD B. NASH, 

FRANK W. BALLARD, 
STEPHEN H. TYNG, Jr., 
P. HARWOOD VERNON, 
Office of the Committee, No. 2j Wall st. Army Committee. 



D. 

Office of the Akmt Committee, 2 5 Wall street, [ 
New York, September 2, 1861. I 

1o the Young Men's Christian Association of 

Dear Brethren : — We hand you herewith a partial report* of the labors of 
the Army Committee of**the New York Young Men's Christian Association. 
• Providence has superadded to our other duties that of ministering to the 
patient sufferers in the various hospitals in and near Washington, where sev- 
eral hundred sick and wounded soldiers are now confined. To occupy this 
field has seemed to be our obvious duty, and we have already been permitted 
to cultivate it advantageously. 

We have established a depository in Washington, and also sent a delegation, 
which is still engaged in active personal visitation, and we desire the means 

* The Summary Statement, " C," was attached to this circular. 



35 

of keeping it with the Army, wherever that may be. We do not provide 
merely for New York soldiers, but for those of every loyal State, and we feel 
confident, therefore, that you will favorably regard, and promptly respond to 
the appeal we now make to you for assistance and co-operation in carrying on 
our work. 

Could you see its fruits, as we have, and hear the blessings of brave men 
for it, it would arouse your enthusiastic emotion. Dear brethren, allow us 
to suggest the immediate appointment of an Army Committee from your 
Association, to confer with our Committee. We need assistance of every 
description, and we believe that no field of usefulness has yet been entered 
by the Young Men's Christian Associations of America, so wide and remune- 
rative as that which God has opened amongst our devoted volunteers in camp 
and in the hospitals. 

With prayers for your welfare, and that the love of Christ may "constrain 
you" to a prompt and hearty response, 

We remain yours, fraternally, 

GILEAD B. NASH, Chairman. 

FKANK W. BALLARD, Treasurer. 

STEPHEN H. TYNG, Jr. 

P. HARWOOD VERNON, Prest. ff. Y. Y.M. C. A. 

EDWARD SELF, Vice-Prest. " " 

NOBLE HEATH, Jr., Cor, Sec. " " 

VINCENT COLYER, at Washington City. 
Address Box 1219 P. 0. Army Committee. 



E. 

Washington, August, 1861. 
Dear Sir : — The undersigned, having been appointed resident repre- 
sentative, at this place, of the Army Committee of the New York Young Men's 
Christian Association, and desiring to aid in every practicable way the cause 
you are engaged in, respectfully requests you to read the accompanying ques- 
tions, and, so far as you may deem proper, fill up the blanks attached with 
clear and satisfactory answers. The Committee which he represents has 
already published, paid for, and distributed 50,000 Soldiers' Hymn Books; 
distributed 200,000 books and Tracts; kept 20 men, gratuitously, among the 
camps, preaching; and provided necessaries and religious instruction for 
many hospitals. It is our intention now to enlarge our efforts, and call upon 
all the Young Men's Christian Associations of the North to unite in providing 
you with such materials as the answers to the following questions will show 
you require. 

Very respectfully, your brother in the Lord, 

VINCENT COLYER, 
251 F Street, Washington, D. C. 

Office in New York, No. 2j Wall Street. 



36 

1. Name and locality of camp. Near Darnstown, Md. 

2. State. Maryland. 

3. Military department. Potomac, sub. Shenandoah.. 

4. Date oi" tilling up this inquiry. October 4th, 1861. 

5. Designation of the body inquired of. Second Mass. Vols. 

6. Name of its commanding officer. George H. Gordon, Col. 

7. Name of chaplain. Alonzo H. Quint. 

8. To what church does he belong ? Mather Ch. , Jamaica Plains, Mass. 

9. "What denomination ? Orthodox Congregational. 

10. Age of chaplain. Thirty-three. 

11. Place of nativity. Barnstead, N. H. 

12. If graduated? Yes. 

13. Where ? Dartmouth College. 1846. 

14. Where regiment recruited ? Eastern part of Mass. 

15. Predominating nativity. America. 

16. What other nativity? Irish considerably — some Germans. 

17. Do the men mostly read English ? Yes. 

18. When mustered into U. S. service ? May 11th, 1861. 

19. At what places stationed since, and how long at each ? Left Mass. July 

8. Hagerstown, Martinsburg, etc. , a day or two each. Harper's Ferry, 
four weeks ; Hagerstown, two weeks. Here a month, now. 

20. How strong when mustered in ? 1046. 

21. Present strength ? 974 ; but it is to be immediately filled up. 

22. What supply of books have you received? Large bundles from both 

Am. Tract* Societies. 500 Testaments; a few Bibles; 600 army hymns, 
and books purchased from money given me, or my own. 

23. From whom did you receive them ? Am. Tract Societies, Christian 

Association, N. Y., and most from friends. 

24. What supply of tracts and papers? Very little, except tracts as above. 

25. From whom received ? As above. 

26. What supply of books have you now on hand? Two bundles — probably 

500 vols. ; but they are on the road to me. 

27. What supply of tracts and papers ? None. 

28. What kind of religious books are most liked by the men and approved of 

by yourself ? Evangelical, but narratives. 

29. What kind of tracts most liked, etc? Hard to tell; our men read all. 

30. What kind of books do you most need to supply your present wants ? 

Some for Catholics; I mean good Catholic books. Otherwise, probably 
well supplied by packages coining. 

31. What kind of tracts or papers ? Temperance tracts and weekly religious 

papers, and especially the Messenger, or Tract Journal. 

32. How many pious officers are there in your regiment ? Hard to decide, 

as the piety is reality; one helps in prayer meetings. 

33. How many pious men are there in your regiment? I think about 100; 

but numerous others are backsliders ; and 300 Catholics. 

34. Have you their names enrolled, as the members of their respective 

churches at home ? No. 

35. Have you organized them into a provisional or a temporary church, by a 

written covenant or other form ? No. 

36. Have you any organized daily or weekly prayer meetings ? Yes. Sabbath 

evening and Wednesday evening. 

37. Have you Bible classes — Sunday schools? No. 

38. Have 'you singing classes for social or devotional purposes? Yes, but 

not very regular. 

39. Have you a suitable tent for public meetings ? No. 

40. Do you think it desirable to have one ? I doubt it, as we can not get it 

transported by Quartermaster. 

41. Have you among your men trad distributors, or any system of tract dis- 

tribution? I have some distributors, but do most myself. 

42. Have you any associations for social improvement ? No. 

43. Are there any provident or mutual benefit societies within the regiment ? 

No. 



37 

44. Do the men generally save or send home a part of their wages ? Yes, 

most money. 

45. Do yon take up any collection for the sick, or for religious and benevo- 

lent objects for the ^soldiers or their families? No. 
4G. Does the general discipline of the camp appear better or worse than 
usual ? Improving very much. 

47. Are ardent spirits sold? No. 

Wine or beer ? No. 

48. Do the men obtain spirits otherwise? Barely; our discipline is strict. 

49. Is there much intoxication? No. 

50. What is abo\it the average daily number of men sent to the guard-house? 

Lately, not one a day; formerly, it was different. 

51. Are these cases chiefly from intoxication? Not chiefly. 

52. Have you temperance societies ? No. 

53. Have you pledges circulated or associations formed against profanity ? 

No. 

54. Is card playing and gambling prevalent among your men? To some 

extent. 

55. Are the men generally in good spirits ? Excellent. 

50. Are means systematically used to promote cheerfulness, by games, enter- 
tainments, etc. ? Yes — rather not systematically. 

57. What innocent games would you recommend as desirable? Ball, cpioits, 

etc. 

58. Do religious people or agents of religious societies visit you ? No. 

59. Hew often ? Once, as we passed through New York. 
GO. Who are they ? Agent of Y. M. Asso. 

61. Do the men write home often ? Very. 

62. Are mails facilitated ? Yes, I see to that. 

63. Are you often called upon by the soldiers to write home to their friends ? 

Very rarely; our men write. 

Do you find time to do this ? Yes. 

64. Is your time fully occupied, and in what way ? 

65. What obstacles chiefly interfere with the performance of religious ser- 

vices? Bain or marches. 
G6. Do you enjoy facilities for personal conversation with the soldiers on 
religious subjects? Yes, to the fullest extent. 

67. Do the men confide to you their personal feelings and private affairs ? 

Many do. 

68. Do you keep a record of interesting incidents which might be instructive 

and useful in the future? Yes. 

69. Have you services and preaching every Sabbath, or only in fair weather? 

Sometimes in wet weather, 3£ p.m. 

70. At what hours are they held? 3£ p.m. 

71. Are the men marched in by companies or is it left voluntary? By com- 

panies. 

72. What is the average attendance ? All, except sick and guard. 

73. Can you find time to visit your sick at the Government hospitals? Yes; 

have been to Frederick and to Baltimore hospitals for that purpose. 

74. Do you keep an accurate record of the deaths, together with the place 

and circumstances? Yes. 

75. Do the officers generally see that a company of men are detailed to at- 

tend funerals? Always, according to army regulations. 

76. Do you carefully mark the place of interment when practicable ? Yes. 

77. Do you preserve the effects and communicate with the friends of 

deceased ? Yes. 

78. If the "Ladies' Aid Societies'" were to send you delicacies and neces- 

sary comforts for the sick of your regiment, could you find time to dis- 
tribute them ? Certainly, and with pleasure. 

79. Would you like to do this* as part of your pastoral labor? Yes. 

80. What articles would you think most desirable ? We are now richly sup- 

plied; our regiment has a fund. 

81. Have you enough bed-ticks for your regimental hospital? Plenty. 



38 

82. Have you enough sheets and pillow cases ? Abundance. 

83. Would a few socks, or pocket handkerchiefs, or towels, be desirable ? 

Government provides socks, and I can not distribute handkerchiefs still 
remaining of our ample supply. 

84. Jellies, or light home-made wines or cordials, and -what kind are pre- 

ferred ? We have all; needed, some jellies. 

85. Is it worth while to send you farina, or broma, or cocoa for the sick, or 

does the Government supply you ? Government and our fund gives us 
all needed. 

I^S" If this is not called for within two days after you have received it, 
please fill up and forward it, without delay, to Frank W. Ballard, 2 3 Wall 
street, New York. 



My dear Sir: — I answer your inquiries to the best of my ability. Our regi- 
ment was richly fitted out by an ample fund. Moneys were also placed in my 
hands for benevolence. I need now, if you mean to do us some good, some 
books which Romanists will take ; and I wovdd particularly like religious 
newspapers. Our men are a reading set. Our colonel and lieutenant-colonel 
are old army officers, and knew what was wanted in all fittings-up, and, 
therefore, we have every physical comfort possible. It is a Massachusetts 
regiment. 

My work is pleasant, and, I believe, attended with good results. With the 
blessing of God, I hope for much success. I have every opportunity which 
officers could possibly give. I have never met a disrespectful word or look. 

With the best wishes for your success, and admiration for your methods, 

Yours in Christian fellowship, 

ALONZO H. QUINT, 
Chaplain Mass. 2d. 



F. 

Washington City, D. C, October 1, 1861. 

Dear Sir: — Having been occupied for these last ten weeks in the army, at 
Washington, as representative of the New York Association, the necessity for 
a much more extended organization, in order to meet, even approximately, 
the Christian wants of the soldier, has so impressed itself upon me, that I 
can not avoid writing to you for aid. I wish to ask the Committee, of which 
you are the honored secretary, to earnestly consider the propriety of calling a 
general convention, at some central place, at the earliest practicable day, to 
consider the spiritual wants of the young men of our army, in order that the 
same may be provided for by the appointing of a "Christian Commission," 
whose duty it shall be to take entire charge of this work. 

The government has now over 250,000 men enlisted, the far greater majority 
of whom are young men, and not a few of them members of our Associations. 



39 

These young men are risking their lives for their country, exposed to constant 
hardships, and subjected to all the temptations and debasing influences of 
camp life. They are liable to sickness and prolonged suffering from wounds 
in hospital, and to sudden death upon the battle-field. To meet the great 
wants of these young men, under circumstances which so urgently call upon 
our Christian sympathies and gratitude, (for they are assembled in defense of 
our homes, our rights, and our government!) no adequate exertion has yet 
been made. Our Society in New York has raised and expended $'2,000, and 
forwarded books, tracts and hospital stores worth $3,000 more. The "Wash- 
ington City Society has had its members actively employed in the camps 
around this city, until the army became so large that it was entirely beyond 
its reach, and it had exhausted its means. Your Society has sent a deputa- 
tion to inquire into the matter and report. Other Societies, of which we have 
no advices (except the Boston, which has done a good work for the navy) 
have doubtless done much. Yet it is all but as a drop in the bucket, compared 
with what ought to be done, and what the great societies whom you represent 
are capable of doing . 

Let me inclose a few brief extracts from letters I have received from chap- 
lains: 

"Allow me, in behalf of the regiment of which lam chaplain, to thank your 
Association for the books and tracts so kindly provided for the men. Could 
the friends of Jesus know how gratefully these books and tracts are received 
by our soldiers, they would be prompted to increased liberality. * * * 
If these works, added to the labors of the chaplains, accomplished no more 
than to save the religious portion of our army from backsliding, it would 
prove a mighty work; but their potency for good in increasing the morale of 
the army can only be measured by those who have an opportunity to judge of 
their effects. 

"W. P. Strickland, Chaplain 48M X. Y. Volunteers." 

"May God bless you in your labor of love and charity. I believe the seed 
of truth sown during this war will be the means of awakening many souls to 
Christ. Pray for me that my faith fail not. 

"J. E. Carpenter, Chaplain 1st RegH D. C. Vols." 

"I rejoice in the Lord at your ' labor of love.' In my opinion this is a work 
second only in importance to the appointment of the highest officers in com- 
mand. Blessings upon you and your true yoke-fellows everywhere for trying 
to introduce more of the Spirit of God into our ranks. Camp life abounds 
with temptations, and the soldier's calling is demoralizing in the extreme. 
" W. H. Cudworth, Chapilain 1st 3Iass. Vols." 

" I would do much violence to my own feelings of gratitude did I not avail 
myself of this opportunity of thanking you, on behalf of myself and also 
the religious portion of the 31st regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, for your 
very timely supply of religious books, &c. No person can safely calculate the 
religious destitution of the army, unless they had practical experience of 
living in camp. Without such an agency as this which you hold here, many 
persons would suffer severely. May the Most High prosper your work of faith, 
and bless you and those who are associated with you in so good and so neces- 
sary a cause. K.W.Oliver, Chaplain 31st Reg't Pa. Volunteers." 

I could add many more like these, but this will suffice to show how the 
work here is regarded by those who are most interested and the best capable 
of judging of its necessity and usefulness. 

It will be seen, then, that I do not ask you to try an experiment, but to 



40 

continue and enlarge a work which is already practically under way and suc- 
cessfully working, but which has now grown so large that we can not do better 
than resign it into hands capable of giving it the dimensions it deserves, and 
I trust will receive from you. 

I need not urge the necessity of prompt as well as decisive action — for it 
must be apparent to every one, that whatever is done effectively in this army 
work must be done quickly. At any moment, here, a terrible battle may take 
place, and all along our lines, (in the West particularly,) engagements are 
daily occurring; besides, the troops are continually in motion, and the habits 
of the men are forming daily, either for good or evil. 

The work is so extensive and needs such large resources, that single Asso- 
ciations can do but little, and for them to act independently of each other is 
to increase vastly the expenses while the labor accomplished will be less; and 
while some sections will receive too much attention, others will be compara- 
tively neglected. 

I need not say what a blessing such a work will prove to the Associations 
themselves. It is well known that inany of these societies are now languish- 
ing for the want of means to meet their current expenses: and it might 
reasonably be asked, seemingly, how can they, then, undertake a new and 
extensive work like this ? The answer is, they can readily collect money for 
this special army mission, when they can not for any thing else. The commu- 
nity is so sensitively alive to the wants of the soldiers — nearly every city, 
town, village or family having their own citizens and members in the army 
—that the subject takes immediate hold of their sympathies, and will com- 
mand their ready aid and support. We have tried it, and found it so. 

Having had a personal interview with the President of your Committee, and 
learned his hearty readiness to co-operate in this work, I visited Boston, and 
there met with an equally cordial response. That Society will send an able 
delegate, and our New York Society will select a prominent citizen and mem- 
ber to represent it; and I doubt not, if the time would have admitted, other 
societies would have promised the same. I therefore leave the matter in your 
hands, and pray that a Convention of all the Young Men's Christian Asso- 
ciations of the Loyal States may be called at an early day. 

With Christian esteem, fraternally yours, VINCENT COLYER, 

Chairman Com. on Correspondence with Convention Xew York Y. M. C. A. 

To James Grant, Esq., 

Sec. of the Com. for calling Convention Y. M. C. A. of the U. 8., Philadelphia, Pa. 



Having been continuously at this centre, with abundant opportunities of 
observation, and feeling strcngly impressed with the necessity of united and 
energetic action in this great work, I heartily concur in the proposition pre- 
sented by Brother Colyer with the view of securing such concerted action. 

M. H. MILLER, 
President Washington City Y. M. Christian Association. 



!^ABY OF CONFESS 



013 764 031^ 



